Information on How to Kill a Privet Hedge

Cutting Down the Hedge

The first step to killing a privet hedge is to cut it down to the ground. The trunks of some varieties can reach 6 inches or more in diameter in old age, so a chainsaw is usually the best tool for the job once the hedge is well-established. If the privet has an open, tree-like form, cut off the side limbs first and then cut the main truck as close as possible to the ground. If it is growing as a compact shrub, cut it at the base and then drag the whole plant away as one piece.